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John 
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Day 291

John 19:1-16 "THE SCOURGING OF JESUS"

Day 291 – John 19

THE SCOURGING OF JESUS

There are passages in the Scriptures which are very difficult to comprehend. One of them is the order of Pilate to scourge Jesus. On the one hand, Pilate declared,

“I find no fault in Him at all.”
John 18:38

On this statement alone, he could have, and he should have freed Jesus! After all, how could he condemn a person whom he could “find no fault in”?

But Pilate did not free Jesus! He was trapped because he was a man-pleaser. He should have listened to his own conscience. He would have been a happier man. At the least he should have gone by the principles of the law that Rome had taught him. If a man is not found guilty, he should be set free! But no, he listened to neither. Instead he sought to please the Jews, and he found out to his detriment that they were the most difficult people to satisfy!

Even after he had said that he could not find any fault in Jesus, he sent Jesus to be tried by Herod! Jesus returned further scarred! Yet Pilate did not find fault with Herod, for returning Jesus badly bruised and battered! Instead, we read that they had become friends, when once they had been at enmity with each other (Luke 23:12).

After Jesus had been sent back to Pilate, he made a terrible decision! John recorded this in his Gospel.

“So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.”
John 19:1

Within this simple statement lies deep pain! The Roman scourge was infamous! Sometimes a person did not survive this flagellation! The Roman scourge was a whip that had pieces of bone or metal embedded within. Each stroke was meant to inflict severe pain and anguish. Each lash was meant to draw blood! What was Pilate’s reason for inflicting such a punishment on Jesus – a man he declared to be free from fault and blame?

THE MOCKING OF JESUS

The soldiers were then allowed free rein to do as they pleased with Jesus. John painfully recorded what they did to Him.

“And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and
put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple
robe. Then they said, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’
And they struck Him with their hands.”
John 19:2-3

Three times now, Jesus was beaten! The Sanhedrin Council members struck Him (Luke 22:63-64). Herod and his men of war also took turns to abuse Him (Luke 23:11). And now this time, by Pilate’s soldiers, Jesus was physically assaulted – for the third time!

A crown of thorns was roughly made and platted on Jesus’ head. They took away His own garments and gave Him “a purple robe”. Royalty usually wore the colour purple! All seemed to have taken delight in striking Jesus, and in mocking Him.

After the scourging was done, Pilate once again went out to the Jews, the elders and scribes, and also the multitude they brought with them and said,

“Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that
you may know that I find no fault in Him.”
John 19:4

Twice now, Pilate said these same words. “I find no fault in Him”. Why then did he flog Jesus? Here are some possible suggestions:-

1. It was an attempt to force the truth out of Jesus.

The Romans employed torture to obtain “truth” from their prisoners. Few can stand the pain that severe torture can inflict upon an individual. If a person is guilty, the application of severe torture can force him to reveal the deepest of secrets! (Conversely, a person who is innocent, under torture, can confess to almost anything his torturer wants him to say. But Jesus bore tremendous pain without a word)! That must have been impressive, even to Pilate!

2. It was an attempt to save Jesus.

Perhaps Pilate thought that he could save the life of Jesus by having Him scourged. Surely, if the crowds saw Jesus after He had been flogged, they would relent and not ask for His death! Pilate had not fully understood the depth of venom and hatred that the Jews had for Jesus! They wanted Him dead, and not just scourged! They must have secretly rejoiced that Jesus suffered so much under the Romans. In their laws, they were not allowed to use whips on their prisoners. They could use sticks to beat their prisoners, but not the kind of whips that the Romans used. This was a vain attempt on Pilate’s part. Jesus bore the extra pain for nothing – or was it really for nothing?

THE PRICE JESUS PAID FOR OUR ATONEMENT

Pilate did not believe in the Truth that Jesus stood for. Thus He did not know that what Jesus had to endure was to fulfill an ancient prophecy found in the scrolls of Isaiah.

“He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows,
Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God,
and afflicted.”
Isaiah 53:3-4

How could Jesus have borne all that He did? He loved His Father and would obey Him, even if it meant terrible suffering! He loved the world, and was prepared to suffer anything that He might redeem it from destruction.

“BUT WE SEE JESUS …”